Apple tree named &#39;MC-51&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘MC-51’ is a whole tree mutation of the ‘MC38’ apple tree variety, characterized by the early and homogeneous coloration of its fruit.

Latin name: Malus domestica Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘MC-51’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘MC-51’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree Malus domestica Borkh. This new variety is a whole tree mutation of the ‘MC38’ apple tree variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,654), characterized by the early and homogeneous coloration of its fruit. ‘MC-51’ was first observed by the inventor in a commercial apple orchard at Sutton Grange, Victoria, Australia in 2008. The variety was asexually reproduced by chip budding in 2011 at Presina, Italy. Test trees grown at Cornaiano, Italy were observed to retain the characteristics of the original ‘MC-51’ tree. The new variety has since been asexually propagated through successive generations and has been observed to remain true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘MC-51’ was first selected for the early and homogeneous coloration of its fruit, as compared to its parent ‘MC38’. The early, even coloring reduces susceptibility to sunburn and allows the fruit to be harvested in one picking. Additional distinguishing characteristics are described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘MC-51’ to parent ‘MC38’ MC38 MC51 Tree—bark color Greyed-orange 177A Greyed-green 197A Leaf—petiole color Greyed-red 179A Yellow-green 145A Fruit—stem color Greyed-orange 176B Grey-brown 199C Fruit russet in stem Low None cavity Fruit—uniformity of Starts and ends More narrow stripes coloration coloring with stripes start to color earlier, with color increasing to solid flush with no stripes Fruit—color Solid striped red 53A Early striping turns to overcolor covering solid flush red-purple 80% of yellow-green 59A covering 90% of 145A ground color yellow-green 145A ground color Fruit—date full color Late (2 weeks before Earlier (4 weeks before is achieved harvest) harvest), reducing susceptibility to sunburn Harvest—number of 2 Usually only 1 due to picks homogeneous coloring Harvest yield

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows the even coloration of fruit of ‘MC-51’ (bottom) compared to parent variety ‘MC38’ (top);

FIG. 2 shows blossoms of ‘MC-51’;

FIG. 3 shows fruit and leaves of ‘MC-51’; and

FIG. 4 shows the even coloration of a bin of fruit of ‘MC-51’ (bottom) compared to parent variety ‘MC38’ (top).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observations made during the 2015 through 2017 growing seasons at Cornaiano, Italy of trees grown on ‘M9’ T337 virus-free rootstock (not patented) and planted in 2013. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:     -   -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Type.—Ramified.         -   Habit.—Drooping.         -   Height.—Apical dominant; dependent on pruning.         -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—2.9 cm.         -   Bark texture.—Smooth.         -   Bark color.—Greyed-green 197A. -   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft     union):     -   -   Length.—Up to 80 cm; dependent on pruning.         -   Diameter.—14 mm at 5 cm from trunk.         -   Crotch angle.—70 to 80 degrees.         -   Bark color.—Grey purple 166A.         -   Lenticel length.—1 mm to 1.5 mm.         -   Lenticel shape.—Oblong.         -   Lenticel density.—4 to 5 per cm⁵. -   One year old shoot:     -   -   Length.—10 to 30 cm.         -   Color.—Greyed-purple 187A.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Thickness.—6 mm to 10 mm at 5 cm from trunk.         -   Internode length.—20 mm to 35 mm.         -   Lenticel density.—4 to 5 per cm². -   Flower buds:     -   -   Quantity per spur.—6.         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Diameter.—8.5 mm.         -   Color of closed bud.—Greyed-purple N187A.         -   Color of bud at balloon stage.—Red 47B. -   Flowers:     -   -   Diameter of fully open flower.—5 cm.         -   Relative position of petal margin.—Not touching.         -   Number per cluster.—6 plus king flower.         -   Date of first bloom.—April 12 (2 days after ‘Gala’).         -   Date of full bloom.—April 19.         -   Pollination requirement.—Required; ‘Gala’ or ‘Granny Smith’. -   Petals (measured on king flower):     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Oval to oblong.         -   Length.—1.6 cm.         -   Width.—1.2 cm.         -   Apex.—Round.         -   Base.—Slightly acuminate.         -   Margin.—Smooth, unruffled.         -   Color of upper surface.—Red-purple 66C.         -   Color of lower surface.—Red-purple 66C. -   Stigma:     -   -   Position.—Above anthers.         -   Color.—White 155D. -   Style:     -   -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 154D. -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 144A. -   Anthers:     -   -   Quantity.—10 (+/−2).         -   Length.—7 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-white 158B. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.13 cm.         -   Color.—Green 138D. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Color.—Green 141D with red-purple 59A tip.         -   Shape.—Pointed.         -   Margin.—Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Length.—Up to about 65 mm.         -   Width.—Up to about 45 mm.         -   Blade margin.—Serrate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Cuneate.         -   Color of upper surface.—Green 139A.         -   Color of lower surface.—Yellow-green 147C.         -   Color of vein.—Green-white 157A.         -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Outward. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—24 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.2 mm.         -   Color.—Greyed-red 179A at attachment to shoot, fading to             yellow-green 145A at leaf base.         -   Stipules.—About 2 present; length 1 to 2 mm. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per cluster.—Up to 3.         -   Diameter.—80 mm.         -   Weight.—230 g.         -   Ratio of height to width.—1 to 1.         -   General shape in profile.—Spherical, symmetrical.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Upper 50% in profile.         -   Ribbing.—None.         -   Crowning at calyx end.—None.         -   Size of eye.—Small, 7 to 10 mm deep.         -   Aperture of eye.—3 cm.         -   Bloom of skin.—Absent.         -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent.         -   Background color of skin.—Yellow-green 145A.         -   Amount of over color.—90%.         -   Over color of skin.—Red-purple 59A.         -   Intensity of over color.—High.         -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush.         -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Absent.         -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent.         -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.         -   Lenticel size.—Large, up to 3 mm.         -   Lenticel color.—Yellow-orange 18C.         -   Lenticel density.—5 per cm² (+/−2).         -   Length of stalk.—2.5 cm (+/−0.7 cm).         -   Thickness of stalk.—2.5 mm.         -   Depth of stalk cavity.—1.2 cm to 2.2 cm.         -   Width of stalk cavity.—2.8 cm (+/−0.4 cm).         -   Firmness of flesh.—Medium; 6.5 kg per cm².         -   Flesh texture.—Crunchy.         -   Aroma.—Sweet with acidity; balanced.         -   Juiciness.—Medium.         -   Brix.—12° to 15° Brix.         -   Flesh color.—White 155A.         -   Locule quantity.—5.         -   Aperture of locules.—Open.         -   Skin texture.—Thick; glossy when polished. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—Up to 2 per chamber; up to 10 total.         -   Length.—8 mm.         -   Width.—5 mm.         -   Shape.—Pointed.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange 175A. -   Harvest:     -   -   Time for harvest.—End of October.         -   Number of picks.—Usually 1; no more than 2.         -   Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.—20 kg. -   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible to black spot;     Moderately tolerant to powdery mildew; Tolerant to scab.     -   -   Storage.—Up to 12 months after harvest in CA storage.         -   Market use.—Fresh. 

1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as described and illustrated herein. 